Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders.
Babygurl33: I can't tell you if she'll end up with Daniel. The only thing I can tell you is that in the end Roxie will be happy.
BodomsGirl: You can totally have Dally say the Sleeping Beauty line in your story. In fact I stole it from the book so it really wasn't my idea to begin with (he says it to Ponyboy in the church).
Tk421beth: Ha-ha yes I put Two-Bit in because he is so damn handsome! You can tell him that!
Silent Storm 2000: Yeah they did ;)
TWbasketcase: I told you I would have angst! I'm not as good at writing it as you though. LOL. I'll have another blow up (featuring Mr. Dallas Winston of course) just for you!
oOoRikku4EveroOo: She might. Or she might pick Daniel. No one knows…except for me…and someone else who figured out what I based my plot on.
MadisonMohawksJD: Thank you.
Cute-Amiga: LOL. I think a lot of people were having similar feelings.
Miru Amai: It's pretty cool to know that people are really excited about my writing.
Sokkazukofan: Glad you liked it.
Author's Note: I've figured it out and there are only two more chapters of this story left, plus the epilogue. I think I'll have it done by Thanksgiving if I'm lucky. But that probably won't happen so it should be done by December. Anyway enough about that, let's get on with the chapter, which is what you really want…
Chapter Twelve: Phone Conversation
"Shh!" I hiss, holding my index finger up to my lips as the phone rang for the second time. Dally rolled his eyes at me as he got up off the sofa in the living room and headed upstairs. I reached for the phone, already knowing who it was.
"Hey baby girl," the voice on the other line said. Yep, it was Daniel. He always called at seven o'clock sharp, to ensure that I was finished with dinner.
"Hi..." I said fiddling with my engagement ring as I spoke. This was the first time Daniel and I had talked since Dally and I…well you know. I wasn't the world's greatest liar but I hoped over the phone Daniel wouldn't be able to tell.
"How are you?" Daniel asked.
"Fine. And you?" I asked, trying to keep my answers straight and to the point.
"I'm alright. I miss you too much though. I'm glad you'll be coming home this weekend," he said. I almost chocked on my salvia. He was right; I was going back to Cincinnati on Sunday…four days from now.
"I am too," I lied through my teeth as I ran a hand through my hair. "How's the hospital?" I asked trying to change the subject.
"It's alright. Betty told me to tell you hello." I smiled at the thought of the old nurse who was my parents' age. Daniel was as good as a son to her and she had taken a special liking to me when I went to visit Daniel at work once.
"Oh well tell her hi back for me." I said.
"So how are things down there?"
"Good. We had a nasty storm the other day but nothing was damaged too badly. Dally and I finally finished with the attic. It's a great room. It's all painted and nice. All the things we're keeping we moved down to the cellar so the attic can be turned into a bedroom or something."
"An attic bedroom would probably make people want to buy the house more. That's good considering the neighborhood it's in." Daniel said offhandedly. My jaw dropped although he couldn't see it.
"What are you saying Danny? That my aunt lives in the shitty end of town?" I said bitterly. I hadn't sworn in so long around Daniel…he didn't approve of it. But it slipped out.
"Well Roxie you have to admit it's not the best end of town. I wouldn't want to raise a family there. There looked to be a lot of gangs." Daniel said. His tone had changed from soothing to a little more abrasive.
"Hey! My friends were in that gang when they were teenagers. And they all turned out alright. They all have jobs." I protested.
"I'm not saying your friends are bad people baby. I'm just saying a family isn't going to want to raise kids there." Daniel said.
"And what's all this about selling the place?" I asked acrimoniously. "Who said anything about selling it?"
"Baby you know we can't have two houses…" Daniel said trying to reason with me but I wouldn't let him.
"This house is mine. I have the right to do whatever I want with it!" I said loudly. Daniel and I had never really fought about anything before, and now here we were arguing over the phone.
"Roxie be reasonable. What are you going to do with a house down there? I know it was your aunt's and you want to hang on to it but you can't hold onto her things forever."
"What if I want to live down here?" I asked. I could practically see Daniel rubbing his temples.
"Roxanne you have a wonderful job at a newspaper here that I know you don't want to leave. And I'm here. Don't I matter?"
"Yes. But I should have some say in where we live." I said feeling childish.
"You do. But you have to be reasonable. There's nothing for me in Tulsa. There's nothing there for you Roxie that you can't get here," he said. I bit the inside of my cheek hard as he said this.
"What about my friends?" I asked. "Daniel I've known them for ten years. They're like family to me. You just don't find people like them everyday."
"…I guess." Daniel mumbled, knowing all too well that if he continued to press the situation about the house I would get even more steamed at him. "I have to go baby if I'm going to get up in my shift in time."
"Okay." I said twirling the phone cord around my wrist.
"I'm sorry we had an argument sweetie," he said into the phone. I smiled.
"I am too. I guess I'm just in a bad mood." I said looking up as Dally came back down the stairs, obviously hearing that my conversation was wrapping up.
"It's okay baby. I'll talk to you tomorrow alright?"
"Okay." I said as Dally sat down next to me, resting his feet on the coffee table.
"I love you Roxie." Daniel said.
"Love you too." I said quickly as I looked over at Dally. His eyes were blazing slightly but he kept quiet.
After our goodbyes were finally finished and I hung up the phone I looked over at Dally. I bit my lip as he said, "We need to talk."
Dun Dun Dun! Cliffhanger!